Michael Kryshtalskyj is an ophthalmology resident at the University of Calgary who current lives in Calgary, Alberta. He is in his first year as a student in the Master of Global Surgical Care program. Read on to find out more about Michael, his experiences, what led him to the MGSC, and more!
What are some of your hobbies & interests (cooking, sports, travelling, etc?) What do you love to do in your spare time?
I enjoy hiking and skiing in the Rockies.
Can you please tell us about your career or professional background?
I am an ophthalmology resident at the University of Calgary and Co-Founder of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society’s Eyes on Ukraine Initiative supporting the treatment of eye injuries during the war in Ukraine.
What has inspired you to study and work in the field of global surgery? Please share any experiences you have had in global surgery work.
In February 2022, I co-founded the Canadian Ophthalmological Society Foundation’s Eyes on Ukraine Initiative. Partaking in global surgical endeavours has been immensely fulfilling. Specifically, I’ve treasured the opportunity to collaborate with inspiring surgeons across Canada and worldwide, and being able to have a wider impact by helping those in need on a broader level.
What attracted you to the MGSC? How do you plan to use the skills and knowledge gained from this program in your career in the future?
I pursued the MGSC to learn more about how to cultivate effective global alliances, and to better understand the different levels at which global surgical endeavours can make a difference. In the future, I hope to use these skills in developing capacity in orbital & oculofacial plastic surgery in low-resource global settings.
Can you tell us more about your experience as a resident in ophthalmology?
Residency in ophthalmology has given me unique insight into the tremendous impact that vision and periocular health have in life. It has also impressed upon me the extensive knowledge, infrastructure and technology required to deliver high-quality outcomes in this essential field – and that in low-resource global settings, these critical elements are often inaccessible. Stronger programming is needed to ensure that these important subspecialty services can be accessed by all.
Is there any work/document/article that you are currently working on that you’d like to promote? Our community would love to find out what our students are currently working on. How can our community learn more about you? (Website, Linkedin, Youtube, etc)
Yes – the COS Foundation’s Eyes on Ukraine Initiative (https://www.cos-sco.ca/cos-foundation/eyes-on-ukraine/). In addition to providing material support to ophthalmologists overseas, our current objectives also include supporting fellowship and residency training opportunities for Ukrainian surgeons.